Benzoyl Peroxide

Start searching on the web for information on treating acne, and you’ll find benzoyl peroxide cropping up again and again. It is certainly one of the most popular active ingredients among over-the-counter acne treatment products. One of the positives about this ingredient is that it isn’t affiliated with just one specific brand of acne treatment. However, the results that it gives people are certainly mixed. Some say that it clears up their skin entirely while others find that it dries the skin excessively. Some even find that stopping use of the product causes an influx of blemishes and that it can increase cystic acne by blocking the pores in the top layer of skin. While benzoyl peroxide has many uses, today we look at it’s uses in the treatment of acne – it’s benefits and drawbacks, and when it is worth trying.

What is benzoyl peroxide?
Benzoyl peroxide is an organic peroxide, used for many different personal and industrial applications. It can bleach hair and teeth, polymerise polyster and ‘improve’ flour, in addition to treating acne. Benzoyl peroxide breaks down on contact with skin, producing benzoic acid and oxygen. Formulations of benzoyl peroxide solutions commonly used for acne treatment range from 2.5% concentration up to 10%.

Why is ‘the Ox’ good for acne?
The ‘oxide’ in benzoyl peroxide, and the fact that the substance breaks down to form oxygen and benzoic acid, are one of its strongest weapons against acne. The type of bacteria that lives in the skin and generally contributes to the development of pimples is proponibacteria acnes, or P. acnes for short. They are anaerobic bacteria, and when the benzoyl peroxide breaks down and introduces oxygen into the pores of the skin, the bacteria die. The thought process being that even if a pore still produces excess sebum or is slightly blocked (which is likely to be the case unless the underlying cause is addressed), there are no bacteria to create infection, preventing the consequent immune response that creates a pimple. Importantly, you may still get blackheads as they are not a product of infection.

The other major reason that benzoyl peroxide is used for acne treatment is its ability to lower sebum production. If there is less oil in your pores for the bacteria to thrive, there is less of a chance for P. acnes to establish themselves. In reducing the sebum production, however, this also makes your skin quite dry and by blocking the excretion of sebum can cause cystic acne (large inflamations under the skin that don’t have a place to erupt).

Of note, the benefits only last as long as you keep using the benzoyl peroxide treatment. Benzoyl peroxide only targets the end symptoms of acne and is certainly not a long term solution. It can definitely be useful for helping clear up breakouts, but if you want to remain acne-free, there are often major dietary issues or an underlying health issue in effect.

Popular Benzoyl Peroxide Products
Proactiv is certainly one of the most widely recognized acne treatments that uses benzoyl peroxide. Clearasil is another benzoyl peroxide product that is known the world over. Other products containing the chemical vary per country but you can always ask your pharmacist for a generic over-the-counter benzoyl peroxide solution. They will usually have a variety of similar style 5-10% spot-treatment products, facial creams, scrubs, etc, and you will have an inexpensive introduction to the substance to see whether it is suitable for you.

Why doesn’t benzoyl peroxide work for me?
While the science behind benzoyl peroxide’s treatment of blemishes sounds great on paper, there is a wide variety of reasons why it may not work for you. These include:

Your acne was due in part to dry skin and the benzoyl peroxide has worsened the dryness

A large population of p. acnes has already established itself under the surface of your skin, so when the benzoyl peroxide dries up the top layer and blocks the exit for sebum, cystic acne forms.

You have a higher than average susceptibility to infection

You have nutritional deficiencies that inhibit your body from fighting infection and creating new healthy skin cells

You have a toxic overload (e.g. acidosis) in your body, weakening your immune system and making you more susceptible to infection

As we mentioned earlier, benzoyl peroxide is not a long term acne treatment – as soon as you stop using it, the pimples will come back. Additionally, it is not suitable for all acne sufferers. While in some milder cases it can be effective in clearing blemishes and preventing break outs while in use, for others you could end up having a worse outbreak than you’ve had for a long time! It is certainly NOT recommended for people with already dry skin. In any case, it is definitely one of the easiest treatments to get ahold of and you never know how it is going to affect you personally until you try it.

6 comments

Yeah I tried using benzoyl peroxide as an acne treatment and I found it just made my acne worse. I got deep cystic acne (worse than usual), and the acne just spread to areas where I didn’t put any BP on.

I definitely agree to everything that you said. Last year I was having an acne treatment and really trying to find a treatment for acne. I have tried benzoyl peroxide and only a minor result.. worst is — as soon as you stop using it, the pimples will come back.

Well, a lot of people finds that benzoyl peroxide can be very sensitve to their skins.

I personally have tried benzoy peroxide and do also get some slight rashes. It can be very effective but maybe because of its strength, it may be too strong for the skin to handle.

Does anyone encounter such rashes before?

September 15th, 2010 at
11:21 pm

jamie says:

wew . .I haven’t experienced trying on benzoyl peroxide due to what I’ve read from other sites in which others claimed that it made their acne worst, formed rashes, dried up the skin and whatsoever. So, it made doubts.

I’m looking for a product which doesn’t contain BP because I’m afraid of the consequences that might arouse. Luckily, I’ve found Puraskin Acne Treatment, it’s naturally made from natural elements.

October 27th, 2010 at
9:26 pm

nanu1992 says:

i used benzoyl peroxide and at first it made my cheeks a little bit red, but my acne was improving wonders! until after 1 month of using it, i start it to have small pimples on my nose, they were tons of it! and in my forehead it look disgusting, i had like 15 small pimples all over my forehead. it look like i had a big allergic. now it has been over 3 months without using this piece of $#*! of benzoyl of peroxide and my acne got a little worst, but now i´m trying to improve my acne with some natural creams, gels etc. i hae mild acne but sometimes it looks like moderated acne and i hate it!!!!.

i just hope i can control better my acne next time.

January 17th, 2011 at
1:42 pm

Sarah says:

I used BP because I was struggling with acne. Soon after using it I found that it broke my face out ten fold with the largest most painful cysts thus far. Those cysts ended up leaving deep scars on my face that even my make up wont cover.

January 11th, 2013 at
12:12 am

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My Acne Review specializes in acne treatment reviews, information on acne, and the treatment of acne and acne scars. We provide articles and discussions on all aspects of acne, including psychological effects, causes, treatments, treatment reviews, and recommendations.